Hydrocarbon burner



Q 11,625,112 April; 1927 F. H. SCHULENBERG HYDROCARBON BURNER Filed Sept. 11. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .ZZZZZZZZZZQZZZZZZZ: 4k 1 00000000233 00000000000 31 00000 0-00000 :0- 11 3Q"! 10 Q I V 18 E I I i 13 M a c JW; 554 ma I 6 3,625,162 AFYEH 1927 F. H. SCHULENBERG HYDRO CARBON BURNER Filed Sept. 11, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 o oooooooo oooooooooq ei qooo 000 o o ooooooooq n? qooo 00000 0000 ca @000 o o 0 00 00002 M1 dooooooo o 0 00000000 l ojooooooo o 0 00000000 1 0100000000 000000000 o'oooooooo 0000000000 08; :ioooooo o o o 0 00000000 q'oooooo o o 0 000000000 0 o oooooo o o 0 000000000 n 00000000 000000000 1 oooooooo o o 0000 00o ooooooooo oooooooooq qoooooooo 000000000 m o oooooo o o o 0 00000004 o oooooooo ooooooooo a oooooooo 000000000 M I "T If I 3 Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

UNITED STATES FREDERICK H. SCHULENBERG, OF LIMA, OHIO.

HYDROCARBON BURNER.

Application filed September 11, 1926. Serial No. 134,787.

This invention relates to hydrocarbon burners.

It is well known that oil burners at present in use are decidedly impractical and fail to accom lish the purpose for which they were inten ed. Numerous attempts have been made to produce an oil burner which eliminates the disagreeable and obnoxious odor, and which will be instantaneously lighted. This is desiderata for all oil burners, but so far no practical burner has been devised which fulfills these requirements. In most oil burners gasoline or alcohols are initially supplied to the burner trough for the purpose of heating the trough to the desired temperature before admitting the fuel, it being understood that until the trough is heated to a predetermined degree, vaporization of the fuel oil does not take place. This method of heating the burner trough is disadvantageous, inefficient and impractical, because a considerable period of t1me is necessitated for raising the temperature of the trough to the desired degree. If the oil is supplied to the burner before the temperature of the burner is sufliciently high, the disagreeable odor well known to users of oil burners, is immediately noticeable. Furthermore, the use of gasoline and alcohols for initial heating purposes, requires careful watching so that these liquids are a proximately burned out before the oil is a 'mitted to the burner trough. Needless to say, a veritable expert is required to operate in any manner approaching satisfaction oil burners at present known and in use.

In accordance with my invention an oil burner is provided in which the heating of the trough is effected in a minimum period of time and in a simple and effective manner the temperature of the burner is raised to the desired degree. The troublesome necessity of watching the burner trough is entirely eliminated and an electrical priming unit is provided which is absolutely eflicient and practical. When the temperature of the burner trough is raised to the required degree the full supply of fuel o 1l may be admitted, and instantly vaporizatlon takes place so that concomitant with the admission of the fuel oil, the stove may be lighted. The advantage of this will be at once apparent, in that the user has only to energize the electric heating or priming element, and after waiting a few moments the full supply or stream of fuel oil may be turned on, and by means of a match or other suitable lighting means, the stove may be lighted and is at once ready for operation. Another outstanding feature of the invention resides in the provision of an overflow for the burner trough, so that should the flame be put out for one reason or another without turning off the oil supply, the oil is drained by the overflow arrangement, and may flow into a suitable receptacle. This also has an advantage of eliminating disagreeable odors. By my arrangement, it will readily be understood that the size of the flame may be varied without sacrificing efficient operation, and if the user desires a high flame, this may readily be had by means of adjustment of the fuel supply valve, and also by adjustment of this valve the flame may be turned down when such an intense flame is not desired.

Objects of this invention are to provide a simple and eiiicient hydrocarbon burner having new and improved features of construction, arrangement and operation hereinafter described, producing a commercially practical device which is sturdy in construction and reliable in operation; to provide a burner construction in which liquid fuel is prevented from overflowing irrespective of the pressure on the liquid supplied; to provide the fuel vaporizing trough with a primer for heating the walls of the trough thereby enhancing the combustion of fuel; and to intensify the heat of the air passing out the upper portion of the burner for securing most efficient combustion.

The invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a hydrocarbon burner embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional elevation on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and also on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4; and Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the priming or initial heating unit.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises an annular block or ring 1 which may be of porcelain or any other material for retaining heat for a comparatively long period of time and preferably dielectric in its nature. The block 1 is cut out to form an outer shelf 2, thereby providing an up wardly'extending portion 3 on the block. Formed in the bottom portion of the block 1 is an annular groove 4 and a similar groove 5 is formed in the upwardly extending portion 3. Carried by the block 1 is an electrical heating element in the form of a coiled wire having a length (i disposed in the groove l and a length 7 disposed in the groove 5. The ends of the heating element are attached to binding posts 8 and current may be supplied to the coil from leads 9. 1

Supported on the shelf 2 of the block 1, is a fuel vaporizing trou h 10 which is preferably of cast iron and for attaching the burner to a suitable support, attaching lugs 11 project outwardl from opposite sides of the trough. Fuel 1s fed to the trough 10 through a feed pipe 12 from any deslred source. The fuel is fed from a point higher than the burner or under pressure suilicient to carry it higher than the burner. The outer wall of the trough 10 is perforated preferably at a point opiposite the feed pipe 12 and a drain or over ow pipe 13 is connected to this perforation.

When fuel oil is fed to the trough of the burner, it may happen for various reasons, that more oil is supplied than is used by the burner. This may happen when the burner is first lit and before the trough becomes sufiiciently heated or when the fire is turned out and the fuel valve is not completely closed, although sometimes the oil may be fed too fast during the otherwise normal operation of the device. Flow of oil over the edges of the trough is always objectionable, because it results in smoking and a disagreeable odor, and such overflow may prove dangerous. It is found that the greatest efficiency of the burner 18 reached when no fuel oil is disposed in the burner trough at any time, because the fuel oil turns instantly to vapor u on entering the burner trough from the fee pipe.

By utilizing the overflow or drain pipe 13, flow of oil over the edges of the trough or its rise in the trough above a level predetermined by the position of the overflow.

pipe-is prevented, and therefore the above mentioned difliculties are obviated.

It will be understood that the porcelain block 1 with its electrical heating element serves as a primer or initial heater for the metallic trough 10. It will be observed that the length 7 of the heating coil is disposed in close relation to one side of the trough while the length 6 of the coil is arranged adjacent the bottom wall of the trough. When the heating element is energized, both the bottom and side walls of the trough are quickly and efiiciently heated to the desired degree so that whenfuel is introduced into the trough, full flame and most efiicient combustion is obtained instantly.

By the arrangement shown and described, the time ordinarily required for starting the urner is materially reduced and the dis agreeable odor so noticeable in the starting of the burner is completely obviated. By using the electric element for generating purposes, the use of liquid starting fuels, such as gasoline or alcohols, is entirely eliminated. 1 find that porcelain is advantageous as the material for the block 1, in that heat is retained for a considerable period of time after the heatingelement has been deenergized. This has been found advantageous and enhances the practicability of the burner. It will be understood that materials other than the porcelain may be advantageously utilized, and I do not desire to be limited to the use of this particular n'iaterial.

The inside of the trough is rabbeted on both sides adjacent the upper edge thereof toreceive the lower ends of an inner perforated shell 14- and an outer perforated shell 15. The upper end of the shell 15 has a ring 16 mounted thereon. The shells 1 1 and 15 cooperate to form a combustion chamber A, and the inner shell 14 forms an air chamber B in which air is heated by the heating element in the block 1; air rising in the chamber B passes through small openings 17 in a cover 18, which closes the upper end of the shell 14. The cover 18 is provided with knob 19 so that it may be conveniently removed. When the cover is removed the heat generated by the lengths 7 of the heating element is sufficient for warming utensils, and may even be used to a limited extent for cooking purposes.

Enclosing the outer side of the shell 15 is a frusto-conical shell 20 having an inturned flange 21 at its u per end which is vertically spaced from t e outer end of the shell 15 and serves to restrict the flow of air between the frusto-conical shell 20 and the shell 15 serving also to direct the air to the outer end of the combustion chamber. It will be seen that the frusto-conical shell 20 provides an air intensifying chamber C which is open at its bottom for the ingress of air and is open at its top for the egress of air. The shell 20 has inwardly projecting lugs 22 which rest on the outer edge of the ring and support the shell in concentric spaced relation to the ring and shell 15.

For further restricting or retardin the flow of air through the air intensi ying chamber C, an inwardl and downwardly curved perforated shiel 23 is connected in any suitable manner to the inside of the frusto-conical shell 20 adjacent the upper end portion thereof. The air in the air intensifying chamber G, which is heated by the heat radiated from the shell 15 rises and is directed by the inturned flange 21 to the upper end of the combustion chamber A. In order to intensify or increase the heat of this air the shield 23 in which the perforations are relatively small, serves to check or retard the air flow so that the temperature of the air is materially increased before being su plied for combustion purposes when t e flame is at full height. 7

While the burner here shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein disclosed, and it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a hydrocarbon burner, a metallic fuel trough, and a priming block for said trough having electrical means for heatin the side wall and bottom portions there o said electrical means being disposed in close juxtaposition to said side and bottom portions.

2. In a hydrocarbon burner, an annular fuel vaporizing trough, and a separate dielectric priming block fitting closely around the inner and bottom walls of said trough having an electric heating element for said walls.

3. In a hydrocarbon burner, a fuel vaporizing trough, a priming block having portions engaging a side and a bottom wall of the trough, said block being of heat-retaining but non-conductive material, and an electric heating element carried by said block for heating the walls ofthe trough.

4. In a hydrocarbon burner, a fuel vaporizing trough, a priming block for the trough having a portlon extending upwardly in engagement with a side Wall of the trough, and a heating element on said block having a part disposed adjacent-the bottom of the 40 troliigh and another part adjacent the side wa 5. In a hydrocarbon burner, an annular metallic fuel trough, and priming means for heating side and bottom walls of said trough said means comprising a block and an electrical heating element provided with portions adjacent each wall, said block also providing a support for said trough.

6. In a hydrocarbon burner, an annular metallic fuel trough, an annular non-metallic ring engaging bottom and side walls of said trough, and an electrical heating unit carried by said ring for heating said trough, said ring being separate from said trough and providing a support therefor.

7 In a hydrocarbon burner, a base portion substantially L-shaped in cross section, a fuel vaporizing trough on said base portion with a part thereof engaging a side wall of the base portion, a heating element carried by said base portion for heating said trough and having an exposed part adjacent the side wall of the trough.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

FREDERICK H. SCHULENBERG. 

